Shoe heel engagement support system

ABSTRACT

Provided is a shoe heel engagement system and method of using the same to secure a user-heel-shoe interface and prevent unintended slipping and discomfort. The heel engagement system includes an elastomeric molded system having a plurality of projecting bumpers and stress concentration geometry features. The geometry stress concentration features may be linear or curved and may have multiple profiles. The geometry stress concentration features are arranged at least transverse to a heel arrangement, and may optionally be aligned with a heel arrangement and in arcuate form relative to heel or a foot-heel curvature improved security and shoe comfort that allow for easy bending-without buckling to fit the inner shape of a shoe. The geometry stress concentration features allow for easy air flow, moisture flow, and easy installation and adaption to the foot-shoe geometry.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No.62/146,683 filed Apr. 13, 2105 and U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No. 62/080,155filed Nov. 14, 2015, the entire contents of both of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION

FIG. 8

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a shoe heel engagement support systemand method for using the same. More particularly, the present disclosureprovides a shoe heel engagement bumper that securely engages a wearer'sfoot and which reduces the tendency of a wearer's foot to slideoutwardly relative to a heel in a shoe during use.

2. Description of the Related Art

The related art involves a series of elastomeric inner sticky tapes thatare secured to the inner portion of a shoe-heel. Such inner tapes areuniformly thin and when curved may tend to buckle and cause chafing andlater shoe irritation.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved shoe heel engagement systemand method for using the same.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an improved healsecuring system containing a number of geometric stress concentrationregions to aid in folding and adapting to the inner geometry of a shoeheel.

In an embodiment, a shoe insert or heel engaging support system for usein a shoe, comprising may include a heel backing portion generallytransverse to a heel securement portion. Each heel backing portion maybe constructed from an elastomeric material having a modulus ofelasticity for user comfort. At least one stress concentration geometrymay be included along one of said heel backing portion and said heelsecurement portion. During an assembly with said shoe, said stressconcentration geometry allowing an easy bending and fitting of said heelengagement system with said shoe.

In a further embodiment, a shoe insert may include a support member,which may include a central portion; a first lateral portion extendingaway from the central portion; a second lateral portion opposite thefirst lateral portion extending away from the central portion; and atongue portion. The support member may have a thickness of less than 3millimeters. A contact member may at least partially extending acrossthe central portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateralportion. The contact member has a thickness greater than the thicknessof the support member.

In a further embodiment, a kit may include the above described shoeinserts, as well as, devices and/or tools (e.g., adhesive) for securingthe shoe inserts to a shoe.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe insert;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another top view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1 positioned ina shoe;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the shoe insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a shoe insert;

FIGS. 13-14 are end views of the shoe insert of FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is another top view of the shoe insert of FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is another bottom view of the shoe insert of FIG. 9;

FIG. 17 is another end view of the shoe insert of FIG. 9;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the shoe insert of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 19-23 are further perspective views of the shoe insert of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 24-32 are perspective views of the shoe insert of FIG. 9positioned in a shoe;

FIG. 33 is a partial sectional illustration view of a conventionalraised shoe and foot assembly noting the conventional arrangementcontaining the provided shoe heel engagement system;

FIG. 34 is a partial sectional illustration view of a conventionalraised shoe and foot assembly showing the tending and urging forces thatact upon a user's foot and shoe;

FIG. 35 is a plan elevation view of a shoe heel engagement system;

FIG. 36 is a side view along section 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 37 is an in position illustration of the shoe heel engagementsystem; and

FIG. 38 is a see-through view of a kit including one or more shoe heelengagement systems and tools for securing the system to a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention.Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts orsteps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct andimmediate connections, but also include connections through intermediateelements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only,directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms maybe used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directionalterms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It willalso be understood that other embodiments may be utilized withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, and that the detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elementsmay be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appendedclaims without requirements of the written description being requiredthereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, a shoe insert 10 has a central or back portion 14,first and second lateral or side portions 18, 22 positioned on eitherside of the back portion 14, and a tongue 26 extending away from theback portion 14 to a tongue end 28. The back portion 14 and sideportions 18, 22 define a top edge 24, and the back portion 14, sideportions 18, 22, and tongue 26 together define a support member of theinsert 10 with a first surface 30 and an opposing back surface 34 (seealso FIGS. 4 and 5). A contact member in the form of a bulbous rim orridge 40 extends across the back portion 14 and side portions 18, 22 onthe first surface 30 at or adjacent to the top edge 24, and comprises aninterior portion 52 and an exterior portion 56 that together define acontact surface 60. In some embodiments, the ridge 40 may only partiallyextend across the back portion 14. A plurality of equally or unequallyspaced recesses 48 in the exterior portion 56 reveals the interiorportion 52. In other embodiments, the ridge 40 comprises an exteriorportion 52. In other embodiments, the ridge 40 comprises an exteriorportion 56 without an interior portion 52 and thus, without recesses 48.In yet another embodiment, the ridge 40 comprises a continuous exteriorportion 56 that varies in height or depth along the top edge, e.g., theridge 40 may be thicker along the side portions 18, 22, and gradually orabruptly thinner along the back portion 14.

The back portion 14, in one embodiment, measures about 3.5 cm in height,as shown in FIG. 4, and together with the side portions 18, 22 measuresabout 10.5 cm in width. In other embodiments, the back portion 14 canmeasure approximately 2 to 5 cm in height and between approximately 8and 15 cm in width with the side portions 18, 22. The overall height,i.e., the tongue 26 together with the back portion 14, can range fromapproximately 3.5 inches to 4.25 inches. Referring to FIG. 2, the tongue26 is approximately 1.25 inches in width near the back portion 14, andapproximately 1.75 inches in width at its widest point near the tongueend 28. In other embodiments, the tongue 26 may have widths betweenapproximately 1 inch and approximately 2 inches near the back portion 14and widths between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 3 inchesat the widest portion bear the tongue end 28. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the tongue 26 is about 3 inches long but can range from approximately 2inches to approximately 4 inches in other embodiments. As shown in FIGS.2 and 4, respectively, the ridge 40 is approximately 1 cm in height witha thickness of approximately 1 cm. In other embodiments, the ridge 40can extend between approximately 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm in height and/orthickness. The spaced recesses 48 each have a width of about 0.15 cm andare spaced approximately 1 cm apart, but the width can range fromapproximately 0.075 to 0.3 cm and the spaced recesses 48 can be spacedcloser together or farther apart than illustrated, and in someembodiments are not equally spaced. Referring also to FIG. 6, the backportion 14, side portions 18, 22, and tongue 26 have a thickness of nomore than about 1 mm but in other embodiments the thickness can range,for example, from approximately 0.75 mm to approximately 3 mm. In oneembodiment, the thickness of the back portion 14, side portions 18, 22,and tongue 26 is uniform.

The insert 10, including the back portion 14, side portions 18, 22,tongue 26, and ridge 40, is integrally formed as one piece from plastic,preferably a clear plastic gel such as silicone, in a molding operation.In additional embodiments, one or more components of the insert 10 canbe formed separately and/or from another flexible material such as foamor soft rubber. The material of the insert 10 is chosen such that theinsert 10 is bendable and may fold to crease upon itself (see FIG. 2),effectively delineating the back portion 14 from the tongue 26. In anembodiment with a specially constructed interior portion 52 and exteriorportion 56, the interior portion may be made of a less flexible materialsuch as hard rubber, while the exterior portion 56 of the ridge could beformed with a softer material such as silicone or another plastic.

A layer of adhesive is deposited on the back surface 34 such that theinsert 10 is removably securable to another surface, such as the insideof a shoe. Alternatively, the adhesive may form a more permanent bondbetween the back surface 34 and the other surface. In other embodimentsan adhesive is applied separately to the back surface 34 immediatelyprior to use. In yet other embodiments, another type of coupling orattachment mechanism on the second surface 34 may be used for couplingthe insert 10 to an adjacent surface. The layer of adhesive or otherattachment mechanism may exist on the entirety of the second surface 34or on only select portions of the second surface 34.

Referring to FIG. 9, and also to FIGS. 10-23, another embodiment of ashoe insert 160 is illustrated, with similar numbers having similarreference numerals and functions as in FIGS. 1-8. In the shoe insert160, a contact member in the form of a series of raised portions or nubs164 extends across the back portion 14 and side portions 18, 22 on thefirst surface 30 at or adjacent to the top edge 24 in lieu of thepreviously described ridge 40. In the alternative embodiments, the nubs164 only partially extend across the back portion 14 or may not extendacross the back portion 14 at all such that no nubs 164 are present onthe contact member at or near the back portion 14. Referring to FIG. 13,the nubs 164 are approximately 7 mm in height but can range from about 5mm to about 10 mm in height, and in some embodiments may have a uniformor varying height across the contact member, e.g., the height of thenubs 164 may generally increase in a direction defined from the backportion 14 to the side portions 18, 22. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 20, thenubs 164 across the back portion 14 may be substantially lower in heightthat the nubs 164 of the side portions 18, 22. Further, the width of thenubs 164 may generally increase in the direction defined from the backportion 14 to the side portions 18, 22. The nubs 164 may also form avariety of shapes relative to the back portion 14 and side portions 18,22. As examples, the nubs 164 can be of a rectangular or ellipticalshape and may vary in shape across portions 14, 18, and 22. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 20, the top surface of the nubs 164 may alsobe tapered inward towards the center of the back portion 14. Othertapers are also possible, and the nubs 164 on the side portions 18, 22may in some embodiments be tapered. Various combinations of nub heights,widths, shapes, and spacing across the contact member are of coursecontemplated for the insert 160. In other embodiments, the nubs 164 arenot wholly separate but instead comprise a continuous single piece oneach of the side portions 18, 22, with nubs 164 of equal or varyingheight separated by channels or recesses.

The nubs 164 are separated from each other by equal or unequal spaces168. The spaces 168 reveal the associated back portion 14 and sideportions 18, 22.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 24-32 illustrate an embodiment of a respective shoeinsert 10, 160 operatively positioned within a shoe 120. The shoe 120has a cavity, an outer edge 128 arranged around the periphery of thecavity 124, and a defined inner surface 140 having a heel portion and abottom portion. The insert 10, 160 is configured for insertion into thecavity 124 and to substantially conform to the inner surface 140.

To position the insert 10 or he insert 160, a user squeezes the sideportions 18, 22 together with the second surface 34 facing the innersurface 140 of the shoe 120. Specifically, the back portion 14 isarranged to abut the heel portion of the inner surface 140 of the shoe120, with the side portions 18, 22 extending laterally from the heelportion. Bending or folding the insert 10, 160 permits the tongue 26 tobe situated against the bottom portion of the inner surface 140 andpressed into place. The contact member, whether in the form of the ridge40 or the nubs 164, is seated against the outer edge 128 near the heelof the shoe 120 and, as shown in FIG. 7, may protrude from the outeredge 128 (approximately 4 to 8 mm), or may be positioned flush with theouter edge 128, as shown in FIGS. 24-27. Once the insert 10, 160 is inplace, the adhesive of the second surface 34 (which may be appliedthereon) in contact with the inner surface 140 maintains the insert 10,160 in position.

With the insert 10, 160 in position, a shoe occupant places her foot inthe shoe 120, contacting the first surface 30 and further pressing thesecond surface 34 against the inner surface 140 of the shoe 120. Thiscompression releases any air trapped between the insert 10, 160 and theinner surface 140 and also acts to more securely join the adhesive orother attachment mechanism to the inner surface 140. During a walkingstride, as the occupant lifts her foot, the ridge 40 (or the nubs 164)interacts/interact with a portion of her heel to maintain the footsecurely within the cavity 124 of the shoe 120.

The inserts 10 and 160 are especially beneficial for maintaining footposition in high-heeled shoes, as they take up minimal space within thecavity 124 and therefore do not urge the foot uncomfortably forward intothe shoe 120. With respect to the insert 160, the presence of a thickerridge 40 or nubs 164 at the lateral portions 18, 22 and a thinner ridge40 or smaller or absent nubs 164 near the back portion 14 may beparticularly effective in maintaining a desired foot placement withinthe cavity 124. Although illustrated with a high-heeled shoe, the insert10, 160 is not so limited in its application and could be used with anytype of shoe (e.g., a men's dress shoe, as shown in FIGS. 28-32).

Referring now to FIGS. 33 and 34, a show insert or heel engagementsystem 240 is positioned within a convention shoe 200 having a toe boxportion 221, a foot access rim 222, an inner foot bed 223 a bottom treadportion 224 on the fore-foot and heel tread portion 225 on a heel 226.As noted there is an arch portion 227 that allows a user's foot to beurged-forward and inwardly during a use, and then allow the heel cupportion 228 to slide relative to foot 282 (FIG. 2). This motion alongmotion direction 280 (front and back) also causes a slippage alongdirection 78 of heel cup portion 228 (up and down). As shown in FIG. 33,the proposed heel engagement system 240 is positioned in heel cupportion 228 and urged to confirm to the inner geometry of shoe 200. Itis noted that the heel cup portion 228 may additionally have a bottomrounded portion (see in FIG. 33) that is concave for receiving therounded portion of a heel. This front and back motion is particularlyconcerning where a foot may not be sized well to the shoe 200 (e.g., toosmall or undersized so that the shoe is too large).

Referring now to FIGS. 35 to 37, a heel engagement system 240 contains agenerally two portion arrangement with a heel backing portion 250spanning the sides of the heel in a cross-wise manner and a heelsecurement portion 251. According to the embodiment noted, there are anumber of cushion bumper members 252 that project relative to thegeneral profile, an adhesive backing 253, and a backing layer 254 foradhesive sticking to the heel cup form 228 in a shoe. The system 240 isconstructed from any suitable elastomeric material, including but notlimited to a silicone based material, LDPE, MDPE, and otherwise.Positioned along heel portion 251 are a number of stress-concentrationlocations 260 formed as a series of grooves having both optionallydifferent profiles (U-or-V-or-box-bottom shaped) and differentarrangements (linear-or-curved).

It will be understood that each stress-concentration location 260 is areduction in the thickness of the heel engagement system 240 so as toprovide a number of advantages. These advantages include, but are notlimited to, operating as air-flow channels, as moisture-escape channels,as heel-gripping-aids with additional surface texture, and asconcentrations of bending-stress so as to allow heel engagement system240 to bend and flex relative to the heel cup portion 228 and anyback-formation and concavity for heel-receipt and while flexing to notbunch up and provide a non-smooth profile despite different curvatureradii needed to smoothly secure the heel engagement system 240 into theshoe 200.

As will be noted in FIG. 35, particular stress-concentration locations260 a are positioned on either side of a user's heel linear access(aligned with markings for section 35-35) and the center line of shoe200, to allow rapid curvature about a heel axis. Similarly, additionallocations 260 b are closely aligned with the heel axis and shoe centerfor tight curvature about a user's Achilles tendon. These types ofgeometries 260 a, 260 b allow what we will call a vertical-axiscurvature easing. Additionally bending geometries/stress concentrators260 c, etc. are positioned along the length of bottom portion 251 toallow the tight horizontal-axis curvature noted in FIG. 37 to meet theinner curvature of a shoe without buckling and bunching. Additionally,curved bending geometries/stress concentrators 260 d, etc. that allowsthe heel-cup bottom portion of heel engagement system 240 to provide aconcavity on a foot bed without bunching. Stress concentrators 260 d,allow a depression to form at the bottom heel-cup portion to provideadditional comfort.

During a use herein, a user will test and position the heel engagementsystem 240 and make any cuttings or trimmings to a general macro-shapeand size. Thereafter, the user will urge the system 240 (with backer 254attached) into heel cup position 228 for further testing. Thereafter,backer 254 is removed, exposing glue layer 253 and system 240 is placedwithin position and smoothed outwardly.

As a result, following installation, the geometries/stress concentrators260 a, 260 b, 260 c, or 260 d may all serve to aid in air flow, moistureflow, gripping, and smooth securing of a heel and a shoe geometryinterface.

A kit 300, as shown in FIG. 38, may include one or more shoe inserts(e.g., insert(s) 10, 240) of varying shapes, sizes, and/orconfigurations, as well as, additional adhesive, if needed. For example,a glue applicator, tube or stick 302 a which may facilitate dispensingan adhesive and/or adhesive tape 302 b may be included should additionaladhesive be needed or desired.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations inturn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments ofthe present invention; however, the order of description should not beconstrued to imply that these operations are order dependent.

It is additionally noted that the proposed system 240 may be provided inkits or multiple-packages for use with two or more shoes.

Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of thepresent disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, it willbe apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to thoseprecise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations canbe made in the presently disclosed system without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the presentdisclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosureprovided they come within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heel engaging support system for use in a shoe,comprising, comprising: a heel backing portion generally transverse to aheel securement portion; each said portion being constructed from anelastomeric material having a modulus of elasticity for user comfort; atleast one stress concentration geometry along one of said heel backingportion and said heel securement portion; and during an assembly withsaid shoe, said stress concentration geometry allowing an easy bendingand fitting of said heel engagement system with said shoe.
 2. The heelengaging support system, according to claim 1, further comprising: aplurality of said stress concentration geometries on said heel engagingsystem; and during an assembly with said shoe, at least ones of saidplurality enabling one of an air flow, a moisture flow, auser-heel-gripping, and an enhanced bending of said heel engagingsupport system.
 3. A shoe insert, comprising: a support member, thesupport member comprising: a central portion; a first lateral portionextending away from the central portion; a second lateral portionopposite the first lateral portion extending away from the centralportion; and a tongue portion; and a contact member at least partiallyextending across the central portion, the first lateral portion, and thesecond lateral portion, wherein the contact member has a thicknessgreater than the thickness of the support member.
 4. The shoe insert ofclaim 3, wherein the support member has a thickness of less than 3millimeters.
 5. The shoe insert of claim 3, further including anadhesive deposited on a portion of the support member.
 6. The shoeinsert of claim 3, wherein the contact member is in the form of abulbous ridge.
 7. The shoe insert of claim 3, wherein the contact memberincludes a plurality of raised nubs.
 8. The shoe insert of claim 3,wherein the contact member includes a plurality of equally spacedrecesses.
 9. The shoe insert of claim 3, wherein the support memberdefines a first surface and an opposing second surface, and wherein thecontact member is positioned on the first surface and an adhesive isdeposited on a portion of the second surface.
 10. The shoe insert ofclaim 3, wherein the tongue portion is configured to fold toward thecentral portion.
 11. The shoe insert of claim 3, wherein the supportmember is bendable between the central portion and the tongue portion.12. The shoe insert of claim 3, wherein the contact member is integrallyformed as one piece with the support member.
 13. The shoe insert ofclaim 3, wherein the support member and the contact member are formedfrom a plastic gel.
 14. The shoe insert of claim 3, wherein the supportmember has a uniform thickness of less than 2 millimeters.
 15. The shoeinsert of claim 1, wherein the support member has a thickness of between0.75 and 1.25 millimeters.
 16. A kit, comprising: one or more heelengaging support systems for use in a shoe, comprising, comprising: aheel backing portion generally transverse to a heel securement portion;each said portion being constructed from an elastomeric material havinga modulus of elasticity for user comfort; at least one stressconcentration geometry along one of said heel backing portion and saidheel securement portion; and during an assembly with said shoe, saidstress concentration geometry allowing an easy bending and fitting ofsaid heel engagement system with said shoe.
 17. The kit of claim 16,further comprising: an adhesive application system for facilitatingsecuring the one or more heel engaging support systems to the shoe.